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August 2, 2013

Searching for snow clothes in the middle of summer

It might seem a touch ironic that I live in a country known the world over for being notoriously cold and snowy (a reputation which is by no means unfounded in many places) and yet have been searching for the past few years to find vintage snow clothes - specifically a pair of mid-century winter boots and a cute two piece snow or ski suit - and keep coming up empty handed.
To be fair, it's not that I haven't seen options online (there's been absolutely nothing forthcoming in person), it's just that almost every last one of them has either been the wrong size or well beyond my budget.

Unlike, say, sundresses, there doesn't seem to be anywhere near the abundance of vintage snow clothes that there is of most other types of seasonal clothing that’s still to be had. Of course some pieces exist and are still for sale, but because relatively few of them surface in the marketplace anymore these days, there's ample demand and little in the way of supply, meaning that those that do pop up frequently fetch princely sums.

{Sewing one's own is always an option, if you happen to be a seamstress that is, which alas, sadly, I'm really not - but gosh, do I adore getting styling inspiration from great 1940s sewing patterns like this. Image source.}

Even if one finds a good price however, there's nothing to say that the size will be right (especially when you wear a modern size 8/8.5 shoe like I do) or that you'll love the garment in question, both make-or-break points in most cases.

There have been a few times that I've found either a great pair of boots or ski suit on eBay and bid like crazy, but when the dust settled, someone with deeper pockets always ousted me, and I had to repeat a phrase familiar to most auction bidders the world over, it just wasn't meant to be.

Compounding these points is the fact that I'm allergic to wool. Really allergic. I nearly always burst out into a horrible case of hives that usually develops into contact dermatitis (lasting for days or even weeks afterwards) if wool (or even fabric that's a wool blend) touches my skin for more than a few minutes. Not good at all if you're in the market for a vintage ski or snow suit, as most of those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s were made of wool. However, some of them are lined and others can be worn with long underwear and/or other garments underneath to ensure that wouldn't come in direct contact with my skin, thus making them fairly safe (I've been doing this with my wool winter coats my whole life).

{The fact that I don't - or more accurately have been unable to for more than a decade now due to my health - ski doesn't phase me one bit, it's the ski bunny look that I'm after more than actually swishing down the slopes. For that, I'll happily thwart wool allergies with long johns, layers, and scarves if that's what it takes to give me the chic, charming yesteryear look (akin to that in the photograph above - especially if the hood is involved!) winter look and protection from the elements that I'm after.}

Some in the vintage community have had great success in finding original cold weather footwear from the 40s and 50s, and others have lucked out and been able to get their mitts on wonderful reproduction style winter boots, such as those from Miss L Fire (I love, for example, the Miss L Fire's that Laurence sported last winter).

While one has a decent range of vintage winter footwear styles to chose from (for examples of such shoes, I highly recommend these two posts that Charlotte wrote last year: one, two; as well as this terrific look at vintage winter shoes and some modern vintage appropriate styles that Gemma penned back in 2010) in terms of the style they’d ideally like to find, the type of boots that I'm after are those that have a distinct cold weather look and feel to them and are ideally fur (or faux fur) trimmed, redolent of the burgundy hued ones in the lovely 1940s ad below.

I'm not ruling out other styles of course, but I wouldn't place things at a beggars can't be choosers kind of level either. I think that the key factor is that I really want them to look like they just stepped (footwear pun intended) out of the 40s or 50s, and should they happen to be fur trimmed (I just adore that look!), all the better.

It might seem a bit strange to be weighing one's options and discussing this topic in the middle of the summer, but now is in fact a great time to ramp up my hunt even further, because we still have a few months (baring a super early winter) until the snowy season returns once more.

Just as you can sometimes find better prices on swimwear, sundresses, and playsuits in January than in July, so too (one can at least hope) is there the possibility that you'll unearth both a wider selection and slightly better prices on vintage winter boots and ski suits during the summer, when there's considerably less use for them (in the Western hemisphere and outside of the Swiss Alps, that is).

My hunt for both of these items will continue diligently. Ideally I'd love to find each one before the first flake hits the ground in the late fall, but if it doesn't happen (again) this year, it's not the end of the universe. I'll just keep my eyes and ears peeled, and know that sooner or later they're both bound to show up (good vintage things, as I always like to say, come to those who wait).

34 comments:

I started looking at winter wear yesterday. I live in the Rocky Mountains so the snow could begin as early as October. That's really not that far off now. Seems a little odd. Thanks for the great links to winter footwear styles.

Hi Anastasia, thank you very much for your comment. I don't think that's strange at all - winter is always in the back of one's mind here in Canada, no matter the time of the year, and keeping an eye out for cold weather garb year round - especially from the second half of summer onwards makes perfect, logical sense.

Thank you very much, dearest Joanna. I've so adored our conversations on this topics over the past few months and will definitely keep up the hunt! Great idea, come the colder months, look for another post (or two, etc) on vintage ski wear. I've got one about the history of tennis wear planned for later in August - tennis always goes hand-in-hand with summer for me.

It's very possible that I have a pair of ski pants that could work for you. They are wool, or at least a wool blend, so you would need to wear something under them. I can't remember if they are lined, will have to dig them out and check. I will also check their measurements. Let me know if you are interested. I would be happy to make a gift of them. :)-Emily

Hello sweet Emily, that is so tremendously kind and thoughtful of you, I would be honoured to give those pants a new home, if they're my size. I'm going to email you asap. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I also like the outdoorsy snow wear, and though I haven't been searching for it high and low like you have, you're right; it WOULD be great to have a cute snowsuit or some boots!!! These pictures you have above are adorable. I'm especially loving that first pattern.Maybe there could be other ways for you to get some snow clothes. Maybe you could trade for one, or trade something to a seamstress for her sewing skills. Also not having a huge budget for clothes, I'm now looking into other ways to get pieces I'm looking for that don't require cash!

Thank you very, dear gal, those are definitely great ideas. I'm always very mindful of my budget and adore finding ways to grow my vintage wardrobe without spending much or anything, too. I think that embodying that kind of creative, resourceful spirit is so in line with the fashions from the very era we adore and that doing so would make our foremothers pleased. Why spend (or spend a lot) if there are creative ways to acquire what you want in a win-win situation that works great for both parties?

Hello dear Brigid, thank you very much for your question. I have indeed, and may very well pursue that avenue if nothing else is forthcoming/suitable in what I can find. It's largely the cost involved with custom tailoring that's held me back from doing so this far (I keep hoping to find some great deals on vintage), but depending on what a given seamstress charged, her prices could be on par with the middle to higher end of online retail, so ultimately the cost could be similar if bargains prove elusive. Whether I go the seamstress or store bought route, I will be sure to post an update here on my blog to let everyone know how my hunt went.

Those rain boots are amazing! It is so much more difficult to find winter vintage clothes than summer dresses! I wonder if sundresses have just translated better over the years? But there are some lovely vintage winter items out there! Good luck on your hunt darling!Happy weekend!!xxhttp://thescreensiren.com

Ooohh, that is too funny! :) Great spotting (I fixed it - it was supposed to say "look"), it completely escaped my editing - but does sounds like something kind of fun, I agree. I could just picture a vintage powder room done up in Nordic patterned wallpaper, tiny fake evergreen trees placed on the counter around the sink, and with both a towel and a ski rack at the ready 24/7.

Hi sweet Sanne, I'm with you completely. I love shopping for everything from clothing to Christmas gifts during the summer months. I also like to start my holiday crafts, if possible, months in advance.

I have a few vintage winter coats - all a bit on the fancy side, nothing snow-bunny-esque - and all of my footwear is modern. I am however on a serious hunt for a classic Hudson's Bay peacoat in my size. What a task!! For the price of a vintage one I'm almost tempted to buy a new one at The Bay. The hunt is half the fun though isn't it?!

What an awesome piece to be on the hunt for, dear gal! I adore the classic Hudson's Bay coats (and blankets - and anything done up in the iconic multi-coloured stripes) so much, too. They're shot up so much in price over the years, haven't they? If I see one (online or off) that doesn't cost the moon, I will let you know immediately.

For sure!!! The hunt is a huge part of the fun - be it for a certain item, a bargain, or (more often than not for me personally) both in one go.

I'm Jessica, a lifelong lover of all things antique and vintage, especially those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

This blog is my visual scrapbook in which I record and share my thoughts on the multitude of sources, people and products that inspire and feed a modern gal's addiction to the past. I also post about the vintage clothes, hairstyles and make-up looks that I adore wearing.

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